Test Results

On average please allow 7 working days for your test results to come back from the hospital unless your doctor has advised otherwise. Please note that X-ray results take a little longer, up to 21 days.

For your test results please telephone the surgery after 11:00. The receptionists have allocated morning appointments by this time and your request should be dealt with promptly.

When test results come back from the lab' your doctor will read them and leave a brief comment. When you call the practice for the result the receptionist will give you this comment. The reception staff are not clinically trained and they cannot always give full results over the phone. If the result is complicated, or if the doctor wants to see you about the result, we will offer you an appointment.

We will only give results to the person who has had the test or a person who has a legal responsibility for the patient (i.e.: parent or guardian).

PLEASE NOTE: It is your responsibility to call the practice for your results. At the practice we request 100s of tests each month and it is therefore not viable for us to contact every patient with their results

Blood Tests

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

assess your general state of health

confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection

see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The child's hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS website.

X-Ray

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS website.